Sensor Network Platform Managing Disruption in Building Management Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Building Management Systems (BMS) are inflexible and costly to modify, limiting their ability to integrate new sensors and adapt to changing needs, such as new regulations or technologies, which reduces their effectiveness in monitoring and controlling building environments.

Innovation Solution

A sensor network platform that includes gateway devices and sensor network nodes, which communicate with external operation centers, allowing for the integration of non-integrated sensors and providing customized data processing and presentation to control systems, enabling flexible and efficient monitoring and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Building Management Systems are modified to integrate new sensors and technologies, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to integrate new sensorsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sensor network platform as an intermediary layer between existing BMS and new sensors. This platform includes gateway devices that communicate with operation centers, enabling integration of non-integrated sensors without directly modifying the BMS architecture. The intermediary handles data collection, processing, and translation, thus improving adaptability while isolating system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If Building Management Systems are modified to integrate new sensors and technologies, then adaptability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to integrate new sensorsVSAvoidcost to modify

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the integration function into separate modular components: sensor network nodes, gateway devices, and operation centers. This segmentation allows the system to add sensing capabilities through independent modules rather than comprehensive BMS modification. Each component can be deployed and configured separately, reducing overall implementation cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If sensor data is continuously transmitted to operation centers, then data accuracy and monitoring effectiveness are improved, but energy consumption and network bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic data transmission where sensor network nodes transmit data to operation centers at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The system can adjust transmission frequency based on data importance, network conditions, and energy availability. This periodic approach maintains data accuracy for monitoring purposes while significantly reducing energy consumption and network bandwidth requirements compared to continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10652767B1System, method and apparatus for managing disruption in a sensor network application

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 SENSEWARE INC

AI summary

A system, method and apparatus for managing disruption in a sensor network application. Nodes in the sensor network can include a storage memory to store collected data during disruptions that impact communication in the sensor network. The sensor network can be configured to continue to collect sensor data during the communication disruptions.